Highway-crossing signal



D. W. RICHARDS HIGHWAY CROSSING SIGNAL Filed Nov. 24, 1923 INVENTOR;

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Patented Apr. 29, 1924.

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Application filed November 24, 1928. Serial No. 678,725.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL W. RICHARDS, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at Roanoke, in the county of Roanoke and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Highway Crossing Signals, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to highway crossing signals, that is, signals suitable for use at grade crossings of highways and railway tracks,

I will describe one form of highway crossing signal embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a view showing, in front elevation, one form of highway crossing signal embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a portion of the signal shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the hanger rod 3 of the signal illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. Figs. 2 and 3 are drawn to a considerably greater scale than Fig. 1.

Similar reference characters refer to simi lar parts in each of the several views.

Referring to the drawing, the signal comprises a post A, and a signal gate B supported thereon and. comprising two leaves B and B and a counterweight B The post A is located, as usual, adjacent the point of intersection of a highway anda railroad track. The gate B is pivoted at point 1 in post A and is arranged to swing down across the highway when a train occupies or is approaching the crossing, and to swing up'wardout of the way when it is safe to proceed along the highway over the cross- Adjacent the free end of the gate B and attached to leaves B and B are two vertically spaced cross struts 2. A hanger rod 3 is pivotally supported by struts 2 so as Supported on hanger rod 3 is a signal unit C which as here shown comprises a lantern having a shell 9 containing a light source 6. As here shown this light source is an electric lamp. The shell 9 is provided with four spaced openings provided with colored roundels 7 and 8 whereby four beams of light are projected from lamp 6 at right angles to each other in a plane parallel to the ground. As

* shown in the drawing roundels 7 are of green its ends vwith a flattened portion 3 having a hole 3 to receive a threadedcrank 4t. fThis crank 4 is provided with a vertical hole 4 the purpose of which will appear hereinafter.; The effective lengthofcrank 4 may be varied by shifting the'hanger rod on the crank, and the rod may be clamped in adjusted position by means of lock nuts18.

Supported by post A is a cam plate. 16 having a cam slot 17 comprising a portion 17 which is concentric with respect to pivotal point 1 and a portion 17" which'is eccentric with respect" to pivotal point 1. A yoke 14: is provided with a cam follower or roller 15 which operates in slot 17.; The yoke .14 is attached to one end of an operating rod 5. The other end of rod 5 is attached lo the free end of crank 41 by means of a pin 19 which passes through the hole 1 in the crank 4: and through a yoke 10 on the rod 5. Rod 5 is supported at spaced points along its length by suitable guides 12 on gate B. A turn-buckle 13 is interposed in rod 5 for the purpose of adjusting the length of this rod. I

Theparts are so proportioned and dis posed that when the gate is in its lower position, as shown in thedrawing, the lantern G directs two opposite beams of green light alonglthe railway track and two oppositely disposed'beams of red light along the highway. When the gate" is raised, lantern C swings on universal joint 11 with out changing the directions of the beams until the gate is sufficiently high to permit unrestricted traiiic along the highway. During this portion of the motion of gate B, roller 15 remains in portion 17 of slot 17 and so does not suffer relative displacement with respect to pivot 1. As the gate continues in its upward motion, roller 15 enters the eccentric portion 17 of slot 17, so that the rolleris drawn toward pivot 1 and hence rod 5 operates on crank 4 to rotate lantern C so that when the gate is in its upper position, beams of green light are projected in opposite directions along the highway and beams of red light are projected in opposite directions along the railway track.

,When the gate is returned to its lower potions may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the'spirit and scope of my invention. Having thus described my invention, what I'claim is: 1. A highway crossing s1gnal comprlslng a fixed post, a movable gate, a signal unit,

a cam on said post, and a cam follower on said gate arranged to co-operate with said cam to control saidsignal unit.

2. A highway crossing signal comprising a fixed post, a movable gate, a cam on sa1d post, a. cam follower on sa1d gate for en:

gaging said cam, and a signal unit on said gate controlled by said cam follower.

3. A highwaycrossing signal comprising a movable gate, a fixed cam, acam follower on said gate for engagingsaid cam, and a signal unit on said gate arranged to be rotated by said cam follower.

4. A highway crossingsignal comprising a movable gate, a fixed'cam, a cam follower on sa1d gate for engaging sa1d cam, a rotatable signal unit on said gate, a crank connected with said unit, and means for operating said crank by said cam follower to rotate said signal unit.

' 5. A highway crossing signal comprising a fixed post having a cam rigidly attached thereto, a gate pivoted on'said post, a Totatable signal unit on said gate, and a cam follower on said gate connected with said signal unit for engaging said earn.

6. In combination, a fixed post, a highway crossing gate pivotally mounted on said support and arranged to be moved at times into such position as to restrict traffic over the highway and to be moved at other times out of such position, a signal unit mounted on said gate, and means comprising an element on'said post and a co-acting element on said gate for causing said signal unit to project a beam of light along said highway when said gate is in one position and to project the same beam of light substantially at right angles to said highway whenwthe gate is in a different position. o

7 In combination, a fixed post, a highway crossing gate pivotally mounted on said post and arranged. to be moved at times into such position as to restrict trafi'icover the highway and to be moved at other times out of such position, a signal unit arranged to project a beam of light of one color along said highwayand to project a beam of light of a second color substantially at right angles to said highway when said gate is in one position, and means comprising an element on said post and a c o-acting element on said gate and effective when said gate is moved to a different position to rotate said signal unit through an angle ofsubstantially ninety angular degrees.

8. A highway crossing signal comprising a fixed post, a gate pivotally attached to said post, a signal unit on said'gate, and means including an element on said post and a co-acting element on said gate for causing said signal unit to assume different positions with respect to the gate in accordance with difierent positions assumed by the gate with respect to said post.

9. A highway crossing signal comprising a fixed post, a gate pivotally attached to said post, a signal unit pivotally mounted on said gate, and means including an element on said post and a co-acting element on sa1d gate for causing said signal unit to turn with respect to the gate when said gate moves with respect to said post.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. DANIEL W. RICHARDS. 

